Cong to take up Giriraj comment row in Maha assembly next week

Mumbai: Amidst raging controversy over Union minister Giriraj Singh’s remarks on Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the party today said it will rake up the issue and protest against the BJP leadership in the Legislative Assembly next week.

“Singh’s comments on Sonia ji is disgraceful and one that cannot be forgiven. This statement reflects the BJP leader’s views on women. We will protest against BJP and its Central leadership in the House next week and demand Singh’s resignation,” Leader of Opposition in the House Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, told.

He said given the history of Singh in making controversial remarks in the recent past, he should be immediately sacked.

“When you are working for the people, there can surely be differences in the style of working, but that does not mean you start directing personal barbs at somebody. And Singh has a habit of making controversial comments. This makes it all the more important for his party to immediately sack him,” Vikhe Patil said.

He added that by “insulting” Gandhi, he has insulted every woman who leads a public life.

“We are extremely hurt.. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take moral responsibility for his minister’s comment and sack him immediately,” Vikhe Patil said.

Singh, a BJP MP from Nawada in Bihar, had on Wednesday stirred a hornet’s nest with his comments asking whether Congress would have accepted Sonia Gandhi’s leadership had she not been white-skinned.

His remarks drew widespread condemnation from leaders across party lines and also upset the West African nation which called the remarks “unacceptable” and in “very bad taste”.

The Nigerian High Commission demanded an apology over the remarks and took the matter to the ministry of external affairs, after which Singh was forced take back his comments.